Locomotive valve actuating mechanism



May 20, 1941.

J. KIRCHHQF LOCOMOTIVE VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed July '7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR yg uqg #11504 ATTORNEYS May 20, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTbR W1 MW ATTORNEYS May 20, 1941. J. KIRCHHOF 2,243,055

LOCOMOTIVE VALVE ACTUATING' MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m- 4 @QK- Mil/l l I I!!! INVENTOR Patented May 2%, 1941 UNITED assess LOGOMOTIVE VALVE NCTUATJNG MECHANISM Julius Kirchhof, Baltimore, Md,

assignor to Societe dExploitation des Procedes Dabeg,

Paris, France Application July 7, 1938, Serial No. 217,890

the cam box and other parts shown in elevation,

Claims.

This invention relates to valve actuating mechanism for the distribution valves of a locomotive and is especially concerned with the mounting and/or fastening of a valve actuating cam box intermediate a pair of steam chests associated with a .cylinder.

In locomotive engines equipped with poppet valves, in which connection the invention is of especial usefulness, the cylinder and steam chests are desirably cast as a unit, along with other elements including exhaust steam passages, the two steam chests for each cylinder being spaced from each other lengthwise of the cylinder. Each steam chest has therein the poppet valves for one end of the cylinder, the valve stems or actuating elements projecting inwardly, i. e., into the space between the two chests, and the valve stems being actuated by tappets operated by a cam mechanism. An arrangement of this general nature appears in copending application Serial No. 186,139 of William E. Woodard, filed January 21, 1938, (which corresponds to Canadian Patent 391,204) and, as shown in said. copending application, the cam mechanism for actuating the tappets is housed in a cam box positioned in the space between the steam chests (alternatively termed valve chests).

In such construction the chests and cam box are mounted toward the top of the cylinder, the space between the chests being at least in part rendered inaccessible at the inner side thereof by the saddle structure and exhaust conduits, and at the top by the branches of the steam pipe.

According to the present invention, provision is made for conveniently applying and removing the cam box from the outer side of the interchest space. The invention moreover provides disconnectible fastening means for the box which are readily accessible from the outer side of the cylinder and chests.

According to the invention, provision is also made for adjustment of the position of the box, so as to provide for proper alignment of the tappets with the valve stems. The fastening and adjustment mechanism also provides for rigid attachment of the box to the cylinder and chest casting in any adjusted position.

How the foregoing objects and advantages are attained, together with others which will occur to those skilled in the art, will appear more fully in the following description referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a cylinder casting having integral boiler saddle, valve chests and exhaust steam passages, with and, illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, the view beingtaken as indicated by the line I-l applied to Figure 2;

Figure 2 is an outer side elevational view of the structure of Figure 1, showing the upper portion of the cylinder, the pair of chests associated therewith, and the cam box interposed between the chests;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through the upper portion of the cylinder and part of the mechanism employed for mounting and fastening the cam bo-x, this view being taken as indicated by the section line 3-3 as applied to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 on Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Figure 2, this view also being on the enlarged scale of Figures 3 and 4'.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the cylinder 6 is cast integrally with a pair of spaced steam chests 1 and 8, this casting having a portion 9 adapted to be supported on the frame of the '35) locomotive and further having a part Ill of the boiler saddle formed therewith.

Steam is delivered to the chests 1 and 8 from the branches II and I2 which are supplied with steam from the steam pipe [3, these branches, as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2, overlying the space intervening between the chests l and 8. In back of the inter-chest space, the exhaust steam passages or conduits It. for one end of the cylinder and I5 for the other end converge from the two valve chests and join in a common passage l6 delivering to the exhaust nozzle (not shown).

Poppet valves for both admission and. exhaust are disposed in the chests 1 and 8 and provide proper steam control and. distribution, as described for instance in the copending application referred to above. The admission valve stems I1 and I8 and the exhaust valve stems l9 and 20 project from the steam chests into the space therebetween and are actuated by coopcrating tappets 2|, 22, 23 and 24, which project I between the steam chests and serves to house and mount the cam actuating mechanism. The cams may in turn be actuated by arms 26 and 21 on shafts which enter the cam box 25 at its inner side. Valve motion work for controlling the movement of the connections 23 and 21 may take the form shown, for example, in copending application of William E. Woodard, Serial No. 121,398, filed January 21, 1937, (Patent No. 2,138,053) or the form shown in his later application Serial No. 256,874, filed February 1'7, 1939 (Patent No. 2,234,613).

For the purpose of mounting the cam box, the cylinder casting is provided with pads 28 on which rest the flanges 29 which are formed on the cam box. Each flange 29 is shouldered as at 30 (see Figure 4) to engage an edge of the cooperating support 28, so that the box 25 is positioned fore and aft of the cylinder by means of the inter-engagement of these parts. At each side of the box a flange 3! projects from the adjacent steam chest in position to overlie the supporting pad 28 in spaced relation, to accommodate a wedge 32 interposed between flange 3i and flange 29 of the box. The box flange (29) has a horizontal bottom surface to lie fiat on the pads 28, but is provided with a tapered upper surface complementary to the adjacent surface of the wedge 32.

The elements 28, 29, 30 and 3| thus constitute guideways which facilitate insertion and removal of the cam box. The position of the box may be adjusted longitudinally of these guideways, i. e., transversely of the cylinder, by means of the cooperating lugs 33 and 34 formed respectively on the cylinder casting and cam box (see Figure the lugs being apertured to pass bolts 35. Adjustment is obtained by the insertion of the desired number or thickness of shims or washers 36 between the adjacent faces of lugs 33 and 34. The bolts, of course, serve to rigidly secure the box in transversely adjusted position.

Upon proper seating of the cam box, the wedges 32 may be advanced to rigidly fix the box flanges 29 between the elements 28 and 3| which are carried by the cylinder and chest casting. The means provided for fastening of each wedge 32 includes a block 31 secured thereto by a stud 38. Toward the upper and lower ends of the block 31, above and below the wedge 32, the block is apertured to pass studs 3939 mounted in lugs 49 formed on the adjacent chest casting. By advancing or unscrewing nuts 4| associated with each one of the studs 39 at opposite faces of the block 31, the block and thus the wedge are caused to move inwardly or outwardly.

By virtue of the arrangements just described, rigid attachment or securing of the cam box is provided for, notwithstanding the fact that the cam box is readily removable and further not withstanding the fact that it is adjustable in position in order to register the valve tappets with the valve stems. The cooperating guideways on the box and on the cylinder and chest casting provide an extended base of rigid engagement when the wedge is tightened, thereby eliminating vibration or disalignmen-t of the parts.

In considering the foregoing it should also be noted that all of the fastening and adjustment means for the cam box are so positioned as to be readily accessible from the outer side of the cylinder. With regard to accessibility, it may further be noted (see Figur 2) that the fastening devices are so located as to permit ready removal of the cam box coverplates 42 and 43,

and thus withdrawal of cam parts or inspection thereof without removing the box or its fastenings.

The arrangement is also of especial advan- 5 tage because of the ready removability of the cam box from the outer side of the cylinder, the inter-chest space being obstructed both above and to the rear.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder provided with a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, a cam box located in the space between the chests, cooperating elements for positioning the cam box, one such element being rigid with the steam chests and the other with the cam box, and fastening means for rigidly positioning the cam box in relation to the steam chests, the fastening means including a fastening member movable into and out of a fastening position in which it maintains rigid interengagement of said cooperating elements at a zone remote from the outer side of said space, the said fastening member being extended from said zone to a zone adjacent the outer side of said space and being manipulable at the latter zone into and out of its fastening position.

2. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder provided with a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, a cam box located in the space between the chests, cooperating elements for positioning the cam box, one such element being rigid with thesteam chests and the -other with the cam box, and fastening means including a wedge member movable into and out of a position in which it rigidly retains said cooperating elements in interengagement in a zone remote from the outer side of said space, the

Wedge member being extended from said zone to a zone adjacent the outer side of said space and being manipulable at the latter zone into and out of its wedging position.

3. In combination with a cylinder structure 45*for a locomotive, a valve actuating cam box, a

mechanism for mounting said box on the structure including complementary guide elements formed respectively on the structure and on the cam box and extended in the direction generally transverse the axis of the cylinder, and separable wedge means insertible in said direction between complementary guide elements on the box and structure to secure the box in position.

4. In combination with a cylinder structure for a locomotive, a valve actuating cam box,

means for mounting said box on the structure including a pair of guides formed on the structure and extended generally transversely to the axis of the cylinder, means on the box cooperating with said guides, adjustable abutment means for positioning the cam box lengthwise of the guides, and means for securing the cam box to the structure in diiferent positions of adjustment lengthwise of said guides. 5. In combination with a cylinder structure for a locomotive, a valve actuating cam box, means for mounting said box on said structure including cooperating guides formed on the 7 structure and box and extended generally trans- "verse to the axis of the cylinder, means for ad- "structure, in any adjusted position.

6. In combination with a cylinder structure for a locomotive, a valve actuating cam box, means for mounting said box on the structure including pairs of spaced guides carried by the structure, complementary tongues carried on the box and projecting between the guides of said pairs, and wedge means cooperating with said guides and said tongues for securing the box as against vertical displacement with respect to the structure.

7. In combination with a cylinder structure for a locomotive, a valve actuating cam box, means for mounting said box on the structure including pairs of spaced guides carried by the structure, complementary tongues carried on the box and projecting between the guides of said pairs, wedge means cooperating with said guides and said tongues for securing the box as against vertical displacement with respect to the structure, and means for adjusting the position of the cam box lengthwise of said guides.

8. In combination with a locomotive cylinder structure with the cylinder axis arranged to extend generally fore and aft of the locomotive and having valve chest means adjacent each end of the cylinder, a valve actuating cam box associated with the cylinder, and means for mounting the cam box on said structure including interengaging parts positively positioning the box longitudinally of the cylinder, transversely extending wedging parts manipulable separately from the cam box for securing the box as against vertical displacement with respect to the cylinder, and lateral securing parts holding the box tightly as against transverse dislodgment.

9. In combination with a locomotive cylinder structure with the cylinder axis arranged to extend generally fore and aft of the locomotive and having valve chest means adjacent each end of the cylinder, a valve actuating cam box associated with the cylinder, and means for mounting the cam box on said structure including interengaging parts positively positioning the box longitudinally of the cylinder, transversely extending wedging parts securing the box as against vertical displacement with respect to the cylinder, and lateral securing parts holding the box tightly as against transverse dislodgment, the wedging and lateral securing parts comprising elements removable and replaceable separately from the box, which elements, when in securing position, extend laterally at the outer side of the cylinder for ready lateral access.

10. In combination with a locomotive cylinder structure positioned with the cylinder axis extended generally fore and aft of the locomotive, a valve actuating cam box associated with the cylinder, and means for mounting the cam box on said structure including complementary shoulders for positioning the box fore and aft of the locomotive, cooperating guides on the structure and the box with interposed wedge means for securing the box as against vertical displacement, and attachment lugs and bolts for securing the box transversely of the locomotive.

11. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder and a steam chest at each end of said cylinder with a space therebetween, a cam box insertable into and removable from said space by movement thereof in a plane transverse to the cylinder axis, cooperating valve actuating elements projecting from said box and said chests, said cooperating elements being in engagement with each other solely by abutment of their adjacent ends in planes transverse to the axis-of the cylinder, whereby transverse removal of the cam box with its said elements can be effected without disassembly or endwise withdrawal of any of the valve actuating elements or associated parts, and wedge means normally acting to hold said box fixedly with relation to the cylinder in such position that the ends of said valve actuating elements are in proper abutting relation, the wedge means being removable separately from the cam box transversely of the cylinder.

12. In combination with a cylinder and steam chest structure for a locomotive, in which the structure incorporates a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, the chests having valve actuating elements projecting therefrom into the intermediate space, a cam box located in said space and having cooperating valve actuating elements projecting therefrom, and means for mounting the cam box rigidly on said cylinder including transverse guideways and lateral positioning abutment means formed on the casting, and means formed on the structure, and mechanism for laterally adjusting the position of the cam box in said guideways relative to said abutment means to provide for alignment of the several cooperating valve actuating elements.

13. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder and steam chest structure provided with a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, and further having a steam supply conduit overlying the space between the chests, and exhaust steam passage means behind said space, the steam chests having actuating means for distribution valves, which actuating means project from the chests inwardly into said space, a cam box located in said space and having cooperating actuating elements projecting therefrom for engagement with the actuating means first mentioned, and mounting means for rigidly positioning the cam box in relation to the steam chests including mechanism for laterally adjusting the position thereof to provide for alignment ofsaid actuating means and said actuating elements.

14. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder and steam chest structure provided with a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, and further having a steam supply conduit overlying the space between the chests, and exhaust steam passage means behind said space, the steam chests having actuating means fordistribution valves, which actuating means project from the chests inwardly into said space, a cam box located in said space and having cooperating actuating elements projecting therefrom for engagement with the actuating means first mentioned, and mounting means for rigidly positioning the cam box in relation to the steam chests including mechanism for adjusting the position thereof to provide for alignment of said actuating means and said actuating elements, the adjustment mechanism being accessible from the outer side of said space.

15. In a locomotive steam engine or the like having a cylinder and steam chest structure provided with a pair of steam chests with intermediate spacing accessible from the side of the locomotive, and further having a steam supply conduit overlying the space between the chests, and exhaust steam passage means behind said space, the steam chests having actuating means for distribution valves, which actuating means project from the chests inwardly into said space, a cam box located in said space and having cooperating actuating means projecting therefrom for engagement with the actuating means first mentioned, said cam box being insertable into and removable from said space from the outer side thereof without disturbing said actuating means, and mounting means for rigidly position- 

